《Heaven's Shattered Blade》


 Blood in the Hollows

    The Red Hollow swallowed sound under a sky like spilled blood, war drums thudding through the haze. Lian Voss ducked an arrow, its black fletching kissing his ear before it buried itself in a corpse¡¯s chest¡ªsome poor bastard from his own Azure Dawn unit. Steel clashed ahead, the Iron Crane Legion¡¯s ranks slicing through conscripts like a blade through silk, their cultivators darting overhead on wings of silver qi. ¡°Told ¡®em this canyon was a coffin,¡± Lian thought, scrambling over a shattered shield, his notched sword dragging like dead weight. ¡°Should¡¯ve bolted when I had the chance.¡±


    He slid behind a jagged rock as another volley rained down, splintering stone and flesh alike. The Azure Dawn¡¯s banners¡ªblue cloth stitched with sanctimonious gold¡ªlay trampled in the dirt. Across the canyon, the Cranes marched in lockstep, shields up, spears gleaming, a wall of death herded by officers barking orders. Above, a cultivator spun mid-air, qi flaring as he loosed a barrage of steel feathers that shredded a dozen men. Lian spat dust. Those bastards don¡¯t even need foot soldiers. Why¡¯d they bother with us?


    A scream cut through¡ªJek, the wiry kid who¡¯d shared his last crust of bread yesterday. Lian peeked out. Jek thrashed, pinned to the ground by a Crane spear, blood bubbling from his lips. ¡°Lian¡ªhelp¡ª¡± The plea choked off as the soldier twisted the shaft. Lian¡¯s grip tightened on his sword. Move, you coward. Do something. But his legs locked. Another arrow whizzed past, and he bolted, Jek¡¯s cry clawing at his back as he dove for a crevice in the canyon wall.


    The shadows swallowed him, cool and damp against the battle¡¯s heat. He pressed against the rock, chest heaving, the clash of steel muffled now. Survive first. Mourn later. He¡¯d seen too many die¡ªfriends, strangers, didn¡¯t matter. The Azure Dawn scooped him up from a gutter six months back, promising food and purpose. All he got was a rusty blade and a front-row seat to slaughter.


    Boots crunched outside. Lian froze. A figure stepped in¡ªtall, armored, sword trailing with a faint silver shimmer. One of them. Big shot, from the gear. Her face was sharp, eyes cold under a crested helm, some kind of energy humming off her like a storm about to break. She¡¯d seen him¡ªprobably smelled the fear dripping off him.


    Stolen novel; please report.


    ¡°Cowards like you deserve a brutal death,¡± she said, voice flat, disinterested. Her sword rose, light coiling into it.


    Lian rolled as she swung. The blade hummed, and a gust of razor wind ripped through the crevice, clawing the stone where he¡¯d been. Rock shards bit his arm, blood seeping through his sleeve. He lunged, swinging wild. Her sword met his¡ªclang sent his hands numb¡ªand she smashed a boot into his chest. He slammed the wall, air gone, head spinning.


    She stepped closer, blade whirling again. Lian ducked¡ªtoo slow. A sharp gust of wind sliced his shoulders, a tiny but painful cut; she was toying with him. He snarled, grabbing dirt and chucking it at her face. She flinched, light stuttering, and he charged. His swung his sword low, aiming for the unprotected area between her chest and leg armour. She tripped¡ªjust enough¡ªand he rammed his blade up, catching soft flesh under her ribs.


    The sword sank in. She gasped, light fading from her, and crumpled, blood pooling black. Lian staggered back, panting, as her weapon clattered beside her. She''s ... dead. I¡¯m alive¡ª


    A rush hit him¡ªhot, sharp, like a gale trapped in his bones. His knees buckled, and a voice growled in his head, low and rough: ¡°Essence reaped.¡± Silver threads snaked from her body, sinking into his chest. His arms tensed, sword suddenly lighter. ¡°What the¡ª?¡± He swung at nothing¡ªair hissed, and the dirt split, a shallow cut with a faint snap of wind. Not her trick, not quite¡ªbut something raw, alive.


    He stared at his blade, then her corpse. ¡°This¡­ this power ... hers?¡± His stomach churned. He wasn¡¯t one of them¡ªno training, no glowing nonsense. But this felt stolen, wrong, and real. He swung again, harder. The air bit deeper, cracking stone. ¡°I didn¡¯t do that before.¡±


    Shouts snapped him out¡ªenemy voices, close. ¡°Captain Vara, I saw her disappear there! There¡ªlight!¡± Lian cursed. His sword flickered, a faint shimmer¡ªwhatever he¡¯d taken, it glowed like a damn beacon. He stumbled from the crevice, blood dripping, the canyon a mess of torn banners and twitching dead. Run. They¡¯ll carve me up for this.


    A horn blared¡ªdeep, wild, not the shrill screech of the Iron Crane whistles. Lian¡¯s head jerked up. Dust boiled across the ridge. Red banners rose, jagged teeth scrawled in blood, riders on hulking beasts¡ªwolves, scaled things, claws glinting. The Crimson Horde faction. Not the same enemy. Worse. Their howls drowned the drums, locking on him¡ªor his stupid, glowing sword. ¡°Saw it too. Great.¡±


    The ground rumbled as they charged, a flood of fur and steel. Lian gripped his blade, the stolen heat thrumming in his veins. Run or fight¡ªeither way, I¡¯m dead meat.

 Beasts of Fire

    The canyon spat Lian out onto a rocky slope, the Red Hollow¡¯s walls falling away as he ascended as fast as he could push his leg to. Dust choked the air, thick as smoke, and behind him, the deep horn blared again¡ªcloser. He didn¡¯t look back. Didn¡¯t need to. The howls told him enough¡ªwild, jagged, mixed with snarls that weren¡¯t human. Red banners flashed in his peripheral, teeth scrawled in blood, and the thud of claws on stone shook his spine. ¡°Beasts. Riders. Worse than the flying bastards.¡± His shoulder burned, blood slicking his arm, but he ran, the glowing sword banging against his thigh. Funnily enough, the once rusty sword now seemed anew, sharper and more durable.


    A spear whistled past, grazing his side¡ªhot sting, minor damage. He swore, ducking low as shadows loomed through the haze. Wolves burst into view¡ªbig as horses, fur matted with gore¡ªriders perched atop, grinning with filed teeth, hurling crude javelins. Behind them, scaled cats slunk, tails lashing like whips, claws glinting. ¡°No wonder they say the leader of Crimson Horde is a madmen.¡± Lian veered left, rocks skittering underfoot, aiming for a jagged outcrop higher up. If he could climb, gain a vantage point¡ª


    A wolf lunged, jaws snapping inches from his leg. He swung blind, blade heavy, and heard the sound of blade hitting flesh. The sword flashed silver, air hissing, and the wolf yelped, a shallow gash splitting its flank. It stumbled, rider cursing, but Lian didn¡¯t stop to gawk. ¡°That again. What is this?¡± His legs pumped faster, faster than they should¡¯ve, a sudden pump of heat surging through him. He didn¡¯t get it¡ªdidn¡¯t want to. Just needed to live.


    He scrambled up the outcrop, lungs screaming, and hauled himself onto a ridge. The slope stretched below, a mess of dust and death¡ªHollow¡¯s survivors scattering as the beasts tore through. ¡°Made it. Maybe¡ª¡± An arrow thunked into the rock beside him, inch away from searing his ankle. He flinched, head snapping up. Figures lined the ridge above¡ªarmor glinting, shields tight, the same lot who¡¯d butchered his unit. ¡°No. Not them too.¡± Their bows creaked, arrows nocked. He was pinned¡ªbeasts below, steel above.


    ¡°Loose!¡± a voice barked. Lian dove as shafts rained, one clipping his calf¡ªsharp, wet pain. He hit the dirt, rolling behind a boulder, sword clutched tight. ¡°Trapped. Dead either way.¡± Boots crunched closer¡ªthree grunts, spears lowered, faces hidden under crested helms. The first lunged, spear thrusting. Lian swung, desperate, and the heat flared again¡ªsilver wind lashed out, sloppy but fierce, cracking the spear haft. The grunt staggered, and Lian rammed his blade into the man¡¯s gut, blood spraying.


    Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.


    A roar erupted below¡ªbeasts slammed into the ridge, riders howling as they clashed with the armored grunts. Wolves tore at shields, cats raked flesh, arrows flying wild. Lian froze, chaos swallowing the slope. ¡°They¡¯re fighting each other. Good¡ªlet ¡®em bleed.¡± He edged back, calf throbbing, when a second grunt charged, spear high. Lian ducked, qi surging unbidden¡ªhis swing bit deeper, shearing through armour and bone. The man dropped, gurgling.


    Then it hit¡ªhotter, sharper, a flood in his chest. His knees buckled, that voice growling again: ¡°Essence reaped.¡± Silver threads snaked from the corpse, sinking into him. His sword hummed, swings heavier now, a faint heat joining the wind¡ªraw, unformed, but alive. ¡°This again? Every kill?¡± His head spun, stomach twisting. He wasn¡¯t built for this¡ªwhatever this was. But the air snapped when he swung, scorching a rock. ¡°Stronger. Too strong.¡±


    Shouts rang¡ªabove and below. ¡°There¡ªglowing!¡± The armored lot regrouped, pointing. Below, a rider barked, eyes locked on him, beast pacing. His sword shimmered, a damn flare in the dusk. ¡°They all see it. I¡¯m meat to both.¡± He staggered up, blood dripping, qi thrumming wild in his veins. The slope was a slaughterhouse¡ªbeasts and steel tearing into each other¡ªbut they¡¯d converge on him soon. He bolted, weaving through rocks, aiming for a gully ahead.


    Hooves thundered behind, howls closing. Lian¡¯s legs burned, qi pushing him faster than they should¡¯ve¡ªstolen speed, stolen strength. He slid into the gully, dust stinging his eyes, and pressed against a slab, panting. ¡°Lost ¡®em. Maybe¡ª¡± A shadow fell ahead. Not a beast, not armor¡ªa figure, cloaked, no banner, just standing there. No face under the hood, just stillness, watching. A blade glinted at their side, sickly green qi curling off it.


    ¡°Who¡¯s this now? Another blade to dodge?¡± Lian gripped his sword, heat pulsing in his grip. Behind, the howls grew louder¡ªbeasts rounding the bend. The figure didn¡¯t move, didn¡¯t speak. Friend or foe, it didn¡¯t matter. He was cornered again.

 Mastering of Qi

    He twisted on instinct, slashing furiously. His qi flared¡ªwind snarled with raw heat¡ªgrazing the beast¡¯s flank, charring scales with a hiss.


    ¡°Azure Dawn deserter,¡± the leader sneered, eyeing Lian¡¯s tattered blue rags, the symbolic golden sun crest faded.Wow, the irony of it; he unlocks a powerful reaping skill, and he wouldn''t live to use it.


    Then the air thickened¡ªgreen mist unfurled from the shadows, coiling like roots torn from blighted earth.


    The cloaked figure stepped from the gloom, green qi simmering low, hood a void of shadow. He seized Lian¡¯s arm¡ªfirm, unyielding¡ªand the world warped, gully dissolving in a swirl of green and black.At least he was still breathing. He looked around. A fractured dome arched overhead, sky split into shards of grey and violet. At the centre, a pool of liquid silver rippled, flanked by black stone roots veined with faint green¡ªrelics with art styles of the Empire in its golden age.


    Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.


    The figure released him, voice coarse as rusted iron. ¡°Your essence runs wild¡ªcrude, loud. Wield it, or it¡¯ll tear you apart.¡±


    Lian lurched back, steel shaky. ¡°Why did you help me out there? Who are you? Where... am I?¡±


    ¡°Names can wait. For now, you only need to know this place as The Shadow Realm.¡± The figure paced, qi flaring¡ªgreen thorns spiked briefly, then dissolved.


    Lian¡¯s ribs ached, qi churning¡ªhot, chaotic, a storm clawing his insides. ¡°Tame it? I need to run¡ª¡± No way out. Having no choice, he sat cross legged by the pool, the silver a cool relief to the fiery qi churning within him, and tried to channel the qi like his senior had taught him back in the Azure Dawn training camps.


    The figure¡¯s hood tilted. ¡°The qi is significantly weaker, but it yours.¡± He knelt, pressing a palm to Lian¡¯s chest¡ªgreen qi seeped in, cool and sharp, knitting torn flesh.


    Lian gripped the shard, words catching¡ª¡°Who''s them? The factions?¡ª¡±¡ªbut green mist spiralled, the hollow folding away. He landed hard on mossy earth, tumbling into a forest¡ªpines towered, bark gouged by old qi storms, air thick with sap and whispers of a world unmoored.

 Overload

    Lian Voss slumped against a pine, its bark gouged by old qi storms, the forest west of the where the shadow figure left him stretching dim and endless around him. His mind churned¡ªmassacre in the canyon, that Crane woman¡¯s blood on his hands, the cloaked figure¡¯s riddled words and that cursed dimension with its whispering pool. ¡°All that, and I¡¯m still alive. Barely.¡± The frail qi he¡¯d wrestled¡ªwind and heat, jagged and red¡ªflickered feebly, his reward for all the suffering. A dull throb pulsed in his skull, his legs, his ribs¡ªexhaustion sinking claws deep, cutting the thoughts short. ¡°Enough. Can¡¯t think straight. Need to drink, eat.¡± He stood up, tattered rags snagging moss¡ªthe once yellow and blue faded to filth¡ªand continued his trek to nothingness, until the trees thinned, revealing a ruined village ahead¡ªhuts sagging, empty cobblestone streets, dilapidated structures.


    Voices drifted¡ªsharp, edged. Lian crept closer, peering past a crumbled wall into the village square. Three armed thugs loomed over a gaunt man, cloaks rippling like spilled ink, blades unsheathed. The man gripped a sack, ribs sharp under patched cloth¡ªjust a frail old man. One soldier, voice a cold rasp, leaned in. ¡°Pay the fee, or we claim more than scraps.¡± Another kicked the sack; grain spilled, scattering over cracked stone. Lian¡¯s grip tightened around his sword. ¡°Mess with someone their own size, why don''t they.¡±


    He stepped out, blade half-raised. ¡°Hey dudes, this ain¡¯t fair¡ªhe doesn''t have a lot to begin with.¡±


    The soldiers turned to Lian, faces covered under a dark mask scribbled with strange insignias. The tallest barked, eyes narrowing to a slit, ¡°And who are you, busybody? Go away¡ªunless you are looking to bleed.¡± Their eyes lit up at the mention of blood.


    Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.


    ¡°The only blood spilt would be yours¡± Lian growled back, but he hurt from the exertion. ¡°Leave, or die.¡±


    The villager glanced up, eyes sunken, then swung a stick at the nearest soldier¡ªcracked against steel, pointless. The soldier smirked, shoving him down¡ªhis skull thunked on the stone, a wet sound. That''s it. Lian moved, qi flaring¡ªwind and heat lashed out, frail and wild, singeing the soldier¡¯s arm. The man cursed, cloak smoking, and quickly drew three darts ¡°You¡¯ll pay, filth.¡± They lunged¡ªthe tall one and another pulled their blade, darting swiftly from side to side, another drew darts and flung it at him.


    Lian swung, more precise, controlled, now that it was his qi. The tallest parried, following up with a lunge; the other''s blade nicked his shoulder, a hot bite. Lian snarled, dodging a thrust, and drove his blade into the burned soldier¡¯s gut¡ªsteel sank deep, blood pooling black. The man wheezed, qi dimming¡ªthen it hit, a rush sharper than before. Dark threads snaked from the corpse, flooding Lian¡¯s chest¡ªshadow qi, it felt heavy, sinister. ¡°What¡ª¡± His knees buckled, qi surging¡ªtoo much, too fast.


    It broke free¡ªdark wind roared from him, a tempest of shadow and heat shredding the square. Huts groaned, stone split, the air screamed¡ªhis blade cracked, then shattered, half spinning into the dirt in a burst of red-tinged gusts. Lian reeled, sight blurring¡ª¡°Too much¡­ breaking me apart!¡±¡ªas the remaining soldiers stumbled, cloaks flapping in the storm. The villagers scattered off. Lian clutched his chest, heaving¡ªqi pulsed wild inside him, shadow seeping into his veins, wind clawing his lungs. ¡°Can¡¯t breathe¡ª¡±


    Darkness gnawed his vision¡ªa black spiral swallowing all. His legs gave, half-blade slipping free, hands flailing as he hit the dirt. Voices blurred¡ªvillager''s chatter, soldiers retreating, the endless whirring. His last thought flickered¡ª¡°I guess this is where it ends...¡±¡ªthen black took him, qi¡¯s howl fading to silence in his skull.

 Qi breathing

    Lian¡¯s eyelids fluttered open, greeted not by the oppressive crimson sky he''d grown accustomed to, but by the diffused, almost ethereal light filtering through silver coated leaves. He was lying on a bed of soft moss, the air thick with the scent of spring and damp earth. Towering trees, their bark shimmering like polished metal, surrounded him, their branches laced with glowing vines. A crystalline spring bubbled nearby, its water reflecting the strange, otherworldly glow.


    A sharp stab of pain lanced through his chest, radiating outwards, and he gasped. ¡°Ugh¡­¡± he groaned, his voice raspy. He tried to sit up, but his limbs felt like lead. His hand brushed against something near him ¨C the shard, warm, and the jagged half of his sword, its metal dull and lifeless.


    The shadowed figure was there, leaning against one of the silver trees, his expression unreadable. The green qi that always seemed to emanate from him was subdued, almost as if he was conserving it.


    ¡°You¡¯re awake,¡± he said, his voice a low rumble.


    "You¡­ you got me out?" Lian managed, the words catching in his throat. The memory of the rogue soldiers, Obsidian Veil Shadows, they called themselves, the crushing weight of the shadow qi, was a fresh burn in his mind. Another wave of agony washed over him, stealing his breath and forcing him back down onto the moss. Stars danced behind his eyelids.


    The shadow pushed off the tree, moving with a fluid grace, too fluid. He knelt beside Lian, his green eyes came into view, rest of his face still hidden under the cloak, scrutinizing. "The outburst¡­ it fractured your core."


    Lian frowned, confusion clouding the lingering pain. "My... core?"


    "Your source. Your reserve of qi," he explained, his voice devoid of emotion. "Reaping qi, especially the way you do, is inherently unstable. It''s like trying to mix oil and water. If not done well, it doesn''t work, it becomes... unnatural."


    He placed a hand on Lian''s chest, a faint green glow emanating from his palm. "You need to learn to breathe, Lian Voss. To regulate the flow. To mend the cracks."


    "Wait! I have so many questions. First, I don''t even know your name yet," Lian interrupted. "Where is this place? Why do you always stalk me?"


    He sat back, his posture rigid. "As I''ve said, my name is irrelevant. This place is my residence."


    "Now, as I was saying. Close your eyes. Empty your mind¨C "


    "Dude, tell me your name! Please, I''m so confused!" Lian had to get something out of the mysterious figure, even something as useless as a name, or even a fake name.


    "Ugh! Fine, the name''s Kael. Happy?" Lian could feel a surge of annoyance flare within the emotionless shadowed figure.


    "Close your eyes. Empty your mind. Feel the qi within you. Not the foreign shadow qi, the you qi, the one you curated in that Shadow Realm. It''s weak, barely a flicker, but it''s there."


    Lian closed his eyes, focusing on the dull ache deep within his chest. Kael was right. There was a faint hum, a tiny spark, battling against the jarring echoes of the stolen shadow qi. He tried to control it, to guide it, but the effort was like trying to herd frightened birds. He gasped, a strangled cough escaping his lips, and tasted blood.


    Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.


    "Again," Kael commanded, his voice firm but patient. "Slower. Deeper. Imagine your core as a cracked vessel. You need to fill the cracks with gentle, consistent pressure, not a sudden flood."


    Lian tried again. He visualized the fractured core, the jagged edges of the wound, and focused on the tiny spark of his own qi. He guided it slowly, deliberately, around the edges of the fracture, a painstaking process, like stitching together a delicate tapestry. This time, there was less pain, a faint sense of control.


    Kael watched, his gaze unwavering. "Reaping is killing you, Lian. Plain and simple. You need to learn to control it, or abstain. But you can''t abstain, can you? You don''t have a choice. Every kill, the reaping just happens. Until you figure how to decide when you reap, or if you can ever escape the chaotic world anymore, which I doubt you can, you need to learn to breathe."


    After what felt like hours of excruciatingly slow progress, Lian felt a faint surge of energy within him. It wasn''t much, but it was enough.


    He opened his eyes, and this time, when he pushed himself up, he managed to sit without collapsing. He looked at Kael, a silent question in his eyes.


    Kael nodded, a flicker of something ¨C approval? ¨C in his gaze. "Stand."


    Lian hesitated. He still felt weak, the core throbbing with a dull ache, but he pushed himself to his feet. The world spun, and he stumbled, falling to his knees.


    "Again," Kael repeated, his voice unwavering.


    Lian pushed himself up again, but this time, the effort was too much. He swayed, his vision blurring, and he collapsed once more, the taste of dirt and despair bitter on his tongue.


    He lay there for a moment, gathering what little strength he had left. He couldn''t fail. He wouldn''t. He had to learn to control this power, this curse, before it consumed him.


    With a groan, he hauled himself up one last time. This time, he stood, swaying precariously, but standing nonetheless.


    Kael moved, his motions blurring. A fist, wreathed in green qi, shot out, aimed at Lian''s chest.


    Lian reacted instinctively, channeling what little qi he had, trying to form a rudimentary barrier. The punch landed, sending a shockwave through his body, but this time¡­ the core held. He stumbled back but remained standing.


    He stood panting, the taste of blood still lingering in his mouth, but he had done it. He had taken the first step.


    "Good, but you are still too weak to leave." Kael materialized back into Lian''s view. "Now you need to rest, you will be up by sunrise tomorrow for more qi training." With that, Kael disappeared without an extra word.


    Lian felt something amiss. Some weird gut feeling he couldn''t quite place.


    He was hungry though. For the first time, he took in a 360 view of the heaven-like plains. He identified a nice little hut, which he assumed was going to be his quarters until Kael decided he could leave.


    <div>


    He staggered toward it, legs trembling. The door creaked open under his palm, no lock, just a leather hinge. Inside, dim light spilled from a single qi crystal embedded in the ceiling¡ªpale blue, flickering like a dying star. A cot hugged one wall, straw-stuffed, a thin blanket folded neat. A wooden table stood center, scarred but solid, and on it¡ªa clay bowl, a chunk of dark bread, dried meat strips, and a small gourd. ¡°Food. He planned this.¡± Lian¡¯s stomach clenched, saliva pooling¡ªhe hadn¡¯t eaten since the Red Hollow massacre, and with days lost to blackout, he hasn''t eaten for over a week, he was sure.


    He sank onto the cot, shoving bread into his mouth¡ªstale, chewy, but it hit like a lifeline. The meat followed, tough and salty, washing down with tepid water from the gourd. ¡°Better than scraps in the Dawn camps.¡± His eyes roamed¡ªshelves lined a wall, stacked with oddities: a cracked jade vial, a thorned twig, scrolls yellowed at the edges. Kael sure led a mysterious life. ¡°Who is he, really?¡± The qi crystal pulsed, faint, syncing with the glade¡¯s hum¡ªpower, steady, not like his own mess.


    Fullness weighed his lids¡ªexhaustion crashed in, core still aching from the day''s training. He kicked off his boots, and pulled the blanket over. ¡°Sunrise. More qi stuff.¡± Sleep took him fast¡ªdreams flickered, of battles with ancient creatures, the massacre between factions, and a nice one about him actually living during the Golden days of the Empire.